Last Friday’s Merino Breeders Circuit Sale in western Victoria combined the 28th Annual Western Plains Lismore Sale and the 21st Annual Halfway House Sale.
HF Richardson & Co Ballarat’s Bernie Nevins said the sale achieved excellent results for the vendors.
“Overall, it was a lot stronger than in previous years; it was strong right from the start to the finish across different types of sheep,” Mr Nevins said.
“There was a lot more buying support and it was great to see a lot of return buyers.”
He said buyers came from Colac, Hamilton, Geelong, Bendigo, Harrow and Beaufort to source proven lines of breeders’ sheep from some of the most respected properties in Victoria.
At Sale 1 at Nanima, Skipton, AD Pitcher & Son sold Glendemar Multi Purpose Merino blood sheep that had been OJD vaccinated and drenched. They sold: 118 Merino ewes, August/September 2015 drop, July shorn, for $154; 90 Merino ewes, Aug/Sep ‘12-‘14 drop, July shorn, for $137; 199 Merino ewes, Aug/Sep ‘11 drop, July shorn, for $154; 65 Merino ewes, Aug/Sept ‘10 drop, July shorn, for $122; and 486 Merino wethers, Aug/Sep ‘15 drop, July shorn, for $133.
At Sale 2 at Briandra, Mingay, BR&SL Wilson offered Lorelmo blood, November shorn sheep, which had been vaccinated with 6-in-1 and against OJD. Of these heavy cutting wool sheep, 793 Merino wethers, Sep ‘15 drop, made $126; 250 Merino wethers, Sep ‘11 drop, made $126; 285 Merino ewes, Sep ‘11 drop, made $118; and 229 Merino ewes, Sep ‘15 drop, made $130.
Sale 3 at Titanga Estate, Lismore, sold sheep from the flock that’s been heavily classed for many years to increase doing-ability. Of the Nov shorn, OJD vaccinated sheep, 1381 Merino wethers, June ‘14 drop, made $116; 392 Merino wethers, June ‘15 drop, made $110; 500 Merino wethers, June ‘16 drop, made $112; 300 Merino ewes, June ‘15 drop, made $152; 310 Merino ewes, May ‘11 drop, made $138; and 303 Merino ewes, May ‘10 drop, made $136.
After lunch T&J Bingley, The Meadows, Rokewood, sold 850 Merino ewes, Aug/Sep ‘12 drop, Meadows blood and bred, classed breeders, OJD vaccinated, drenched, for $154.
At Sale 5 at Wurrook Estate, Rokewood, the Walton family sold June shorn sheep that reflected the Wurrook fine/superfine wool Merino stud is MN3, OJD vaccinates and is Brucellosis accredited. Their 484 Merino ewes, spring ‘14 drop, made $172; 210 Merino ewes, spring 2010 drop, made $142; 630 Merino wethers, spring 2014 drop, made $146; and 788 Merino wethers, spring 2015 drop, made $134.
The final sale was at Warrambine Pastoral, Warrambeen, where 326 Merino ewes, Aug ‘09 drop, December shorn, OJD vaccinated sold for $96.